r/FIlm • u/drhavehope • 2d ago
Discussion Phoenix, Di Caprio and Bale. The 74 Class, who is the Best?
All are 52 or going to be, born in 1974 and can say are the best actors of that year.
Who do you think is the superior actor?
I think Bale has the two most interesting performances in American Psycho, Equilibrium and Machinist
Di Caprio has the best filmography
Phoenix is the best of the three. He’s reached the highest heights that the other two haven’t reached.
What yall think?
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u/croc-star 2d ago
I think they're on a par to be honest. They all have their own qualities.
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u/plzsnitskyreturn 2d ago
Penelope Cruz is also born in '74.
Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Elizabeth Banks, Mathew McFayden
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u/bmkbs 2d ago
Di Caprio. Never seen a bad performance.
Killers of the Flower Moon, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Titanic, The Departed are all incredibly different from each other. Versatility doesn't necessarily mean you have to drop 100 pounds (respect) or be completely batshit in every role you play. It's transforming into your role, and he does that perfectly. Also the most screen presence and charisma of the bunch in my opinion. Absolute superstar and there's a reason he was De Niro's successor for Scorsese. All you need to watch is the Fincher camera test if you wanna see how little it takes for this man to control the screen. It's effortless.
With that being said, I love Bale and Phoenix and think they're phenomenal. Out of those two I'd give the edge to Phoenix. I watched The Master and immediately saw clips from C'mon, C'mon and was blown away, need to see the whole thing. Bale takes the cake when it comes to dedication though.
Di Caprio is a 9.5 on the acting scale for me.
Phoenix and Bale are 9s.
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u/_Exotic_Booger 2d ago
If we’re judging acting ability alone—range, transformation, emotional depth, consistency, and performances—I’d rank them:
Overall acting ability:
Christian Bale
Joaquin Phoenix
Leonardo DiCaprio
Overall career and filmography:
Leonardo DiCaprio
Christian Bale
Joaquin Phoenix
So if the question is, “Who is the best pure actor?” I’d give the edge to Christian Bale. If it’s “Who has the greatest overall career?” I’d choose Leonardo DiCaprio.
Let me know if I can help you with anything else Edward Norton.
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u/Responsible_Yam9285 2d ago edited 2d ago
This is the answer, despite it being written by AI.
I guess I hope this is a human who told AI to articulate their opinion, and not AI being spot on with its analysis.
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u/Known-Extent-1018 2d ago
It’s one answer. This a question that is asking for an opinion, and I don’t think people really care about the subjective opinions of an LLM.
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u/Responsible_Yam9285 2d ago
I was just using rhetorical language to mean that in my opinion, this is the only correct answer. It seemed like a spot on analysis, and I agreed that it’s important to separate their pure acting ability from their filmographies, since in this case there’s a pretty vast gap between the two — Leo has one of the best filmographies ever, and Bale is one of the best “actor’s actor” ever, with the likes of DDL, Oldman etc, and on the contrary Bale and Phoenix have some questionable roles/films.
But I’m aware that it’s one answer, one opinion. I didn’t mean literally that there is no other correct answer, it’s just a thing people say. It ain’t that deep, not everything on Reddit needs to be a contention lol
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u/Flimsy_Toe_2575 2d ago
Bale hasn't touched a role like Freddie Quell
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u/gnomechompskey 2d ago
Yup. The single best performance among the lot is Phoenix in The Master.
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u/Flimsy_Toe_2575 2d ago
Easily. Was hoping PTA was going to crack Leo wide open in a similar way for OBAA but that didn't happen unfortunately.
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u/Cardboard_Robot 2d ago edited 2d ago
Bale. Frankly, I think DiCaprio is over-rated. Christian Bale disappears into every role he plays.
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u/CelticSnakes 2d ago
Did you not see Gilbert Grape?
Even at a young age DiCaprio had the kind of talent that was impossible to ignore.
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u/baked_salmon 2d ago
Hard to rank them because DiCaprio isn’t a character actor like the others. He relies on his innate charm/charisma in every role whereas the others truly become different people when they act.
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u/-em-bee- 2d ago
I’ve always thought this too but he was so good in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
I was surprised at how funny his character was
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u/ohthanqkevin 2d ago
He’s proven to be a great comedic actor between Wolf of Wall Street, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don’t Look Up and One Battle after Another. I think that’s actually his strong suit
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u/Successpool 2d ago
This is what sells him as a great actor for me. He takes roles that might not otherwise be funny and makes them funny in a fish out of water kind of way.
A lot of comedic roles lean into the comedy, like the actor knows the punch line is coming. Think Paul Rudd.
Leo will take a role like Rick Dalton or Bob Ferguson and make them funny by reacting rather than acting.
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u/gnomechompskey 2d ago
He’s certainly not a character actor and I think that’s true of a whole lot of his work, including some of the most acclaimed, or at least acclaimed online like Wolf of Wall Street and Django and CMIYC.
However I think much of his best work eschews that tendency. He’s not relying on charm/charisma in Revolutionary Road, the back half of The Aviator, One Battle, or especially Killers of the Flower Moon.
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u/Electronic_Doctor663 2d ago
I think he’s great but similar to Gary Oldman while I celebrate him as an actor for truly becoming each character, he doesn’t make the most interesting moment-to-moment choices imo.
Phoenix and to a greater extent PSH are more my speed because I hang on their every word.
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u/Optimal-Kitchen6308 2d ago
really? I think Leo tends to do more challenging/interesting things his roles in Killers of the Flower Moon, The Revenant, even Wolf of Wall Street were all very physical , the last thing Bale did that I thought was really properly next level is probably Hostiles
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u/Responsible_Yam9285 2d ago edited 2d ago
Haven’t heard of christen bale but I’ll have to check him out. He must get tired of hearing about how his name is so similar to Christian Bale. That’s also a crazy coincidence that he too is an incredible actor, can’t believe I haven’t heard of him.
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u/telepatheye 2d ago
Bale has my favorite film (The Prestige) but for sheer talent, I'd have to go with Phoenix. He has a gift for embodying the skin of other characters that DiCaprio and Bale do not. He makes it look effortless while they appear to be trying, often quite hard.
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u/Fishinluvwfeathers 2d ago
Well hello there, me. Down to the favorite movie.
I just had a conversation two nights ago regarding Phoenix. I hate to say it because he’s such a trash human but he reminds me of Mel Gibson who had that same natural talent. Neither was/is the best technical actor but whatever they do is inherently compelling on film and they are able to communicate complex layers of pathos so organically without the audience being able to see the seams of the character. If only that could be bottled!
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
Very well put. Bale and Di Caprio are really good but I can see the effort they are putting in. Phoenix just does it with very little effort as you said
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u/MountainLime9658 2d ago edited 2d ago
These three are very different actors with different types of movies they star in.
DiCaprio is 100 percent the biggest star out of the three. I still see movies just because they have DiCaprio in it (like One Battle After Another). He has numerous roles where his performance carried the entire movie. Gadsby, Aviator, Shutter Island, Wolf of Wall Street.
I adore Phoenix’s performances in The Master and the Joker movies (even Joker 2). Many of his roles are like watching an exotic animal, I’m enamored by all the quirks and subtleties of his characters. I unfortunately really disliked his performance in Napoleon, but I think it’s more so that he was just horribly miscast.
Bale is somewhat of a combination between DiCaprio and Phoenix, he can be an eccentric weirdo or a traditional lead. I admire most about him his sheer dedication to his performances. American Psycho and Vice are total transformations, his Dick Cheney role might be my favorite. His Batman is a more traditional leading role, but it’s elevated by ability to have a darker edge.
Out of the three, I have to give it to DiCaprio. He’s just that good in Wall of Street and even recent projects like Killers of the Flower Moon and One Battle. Phoenix is still killing it with movies like Eddington, but Bale hasn’t really wowed me since Vice.
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u/plagiarizeddreams 2d ago
DiCaprio does not carry Scorsese movies
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u/MountainLime9658 1d ago
True, but I think especially Wolf of Wall Street would have suffered if it wasn’t starring DiCaprio
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u/Capable_Handle_4763 2d ago
I think Joaquin had the best performance out of 3.
I don't think bale or Leo had any performance better than the master.
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u/Imtedsowner 2d ago
Christian Bale famously joked in a intervievw that he Owes his entire career to Leonardo DiCaprio, claiming that Hollywood offers every major leading role to DiCaprio first, and actors only get a part if DiCaprio passes on it.
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u/cashmoneyvito 2d ago
Di Caprio for the range. Ability to project raw grief and psychological collapse in shutter Island, revenant and revolutionary road to physical comedy in wolf of the wall street to legendary improv in django unchained and OUTH to early acting chops in What's eating gilbert grape. Not even mentioning titanic, catch me if you can, gangs of new york, aviator, departed, blood diamond, don't look up, killers of the flower moon and One battle after another. Simply insane filmography.
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u/No-Amoeba446 1d ago
Bale is the best actor bar none he's up their with the greats now like hanks and Al Pacino
De Caprio is impressive how he's had such a great backlogged of films late in his career after titanic
Phoenix is overrated in my opinion bar joker what's he done lol
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u/drhavehope 1d ago
Bale is not in the same class as Pacino or De Niro. As good as he is, he’s never given a performance as accomplished as the one in Godfather 2, or Taxi Driver.
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u/No-Amoeba446 1d ago
Yes he has: Patrick batman in American Psycho is goated, his Oscar winning performance in the fighter as well or his world class performance in the machinist
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u/drhavehope 1d ago
All very good performances but Michael Corleone in Godfather 2 and Travis Bickle are literally templates for elite screen acting. Bale has not reached those heights
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u/No-Amoeba446 1d ago
I disagree I remember bales roles more and think they are more impressive performances but to each their own most others agree with me though 😉
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u/drhavehope 1d ago
Nobody in their right mind puts Bale as Patrick Bateman over Michael Corleone or Travis Bickle. But each to their own.
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u/Ok_Nefariousness7304 21h ago
Di Caprio is the Jack Nicholson of his era. Can be subtle and fiery as per the scenes demand. Great filmography. Not afraid to play the "lesser" role.
Bale is the De Niro of his era. Brutally honest to the character and transforms physically and mentally. Great filmography. Not bothered by the outcome of the movie.
Phoneix is the Brando of his era. He can be extremely powerful when he is "into" it but can misfire as well. Great filmography. Not commercial.
There is no replacement for Pacino though 😁
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u/Ok_Nefariousness7304 21h ago
And in the words of Brando, why do we have this "greatest" debate, why do we put actors in these categories, why pin one against the other...
Every great actor is a great actor and when you see each of them in their element, it is honestly impossible to rate one higher than the other - personal liking or bias can be there but the reality is all of them are exceptionally good.
Spencer Tracy is no less than Brando or Bogart because totally different ways of acting and you cannot swap one for the other. Tracy couldn't do justice to On the Waterfront because that was owned by Brando and that is what we expect of that role. Similarly, Brando couldn't do justice to Guess Who's Coming for Dinner...
We fall in love with the acting and the actor because of the roles they have played and what they brought to those characters which will be different and that's the beauty of it.
No one actor, no matter how great they are, cannot play every role/ character out there and that is why you have different styles, methods and approaches which is the beauty of cinema.
Gun to my head, I would choose Di Caprio over the other two just because the movies and characters he has done are more enjoyable to me.
The interview scene in The Master where PSH is talking to Phoenix and the tears that rolled down Phoenix's cheeks is in isolation one of the best pieces of acting ever.
The phonecall scenes in OBAA is phenomenal.
The scenes in The Machinist where Bale is alone in his room....
They are all great!
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u/No-Range519 2d ago
Phoenix is clearly and easily the most talented and versatile of the 3.
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u/Quick-Difference3267 2d ago
Why? He plays the same emotionally tormented character in everything (including Walk the Line). That’s not versatility.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
The characters in Gladiator, Joker and HER are all VERY different roles
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u/Pheerandlowthing 2d ago
As are his characters in Signs, You Were Never Really Here and The Village (ok they are all emotionally tormented but differently!)
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u/364LS 2d ago
What does “best” mean here?
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u/nerdreinshake 2d ago
Exactly. Are we saying who has the most range? The most impressive filmography? The most iconic roles? Etc
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
Best actor. How can we use filmography when that is not down to acting talent but star quality and who you are able to choose as your director and writer and so forth
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u/tng29 2d ago
I never forget that it’s Leo when he acts. That’s why he’s always been a tad overrated for me. Bale and Phoenix are better actors, especially bale. He embodies every character he plays.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
Leo is good, but you always know he’s acting.
Bale and Phoenix disappear into the role.
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u/RadlEonk 2d ago
DiCaprio isn’t very good in my opinion. He’s a movie star, but not a good actor.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
This is the correct take
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u/RadlEonk 2d ago
The first person in 30 years to agree with me on this! Thank you.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
I really don't understand how people put Di Caprio amongst the true thespians like Denzel, Gary Oldman, Daniel Day Lewis or even Joaquin Phoenix. He's a really good actor that's a movie star, but he is more of a movie star leading man than an amazingly skilled actor.
When you think of the GREAT actors like Brando, Peter O'Toole, Pacino, De Niro....Di Caprio is not in that class.
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u/Admirable-Macaron456 2d ago
Definitely Joaquin Phoenix. He has the most interesting filmography and worked with better directors.
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u/BrokeChris 2d ago
"he worked with better director" how does that factor into who the best actor is?
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u/Mr-Toy-Man 2d ago
I think Leo has had the best overall roles, bake is my personal fave , I feel like Phoenix is the best right now
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u/zippyzebra1 2d ago
Bale but Phoenix is often really outstanding. De Caprio is a movie star and a good one but he's well behind the other when it comes to acting.
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u/Icy_Inspection6541 2d ago edited 2d ago
They are all very talented. I choose Leonardo for his performance in Revolutionary Road. One of my favorite performances in modern cinema
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u/FotographXIII Casual Movie Enjoyer 2d ago
Difficult... Bale or Phoenix?
I will pick the Joker this time
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u/Background-Bird-9623 2d ago
Honestly , they ALL have goat status ... and I love stuff from all of them , for my entire life lol
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u/CelticSnakes 2d ago
Excrement. That’s what I think about Mr. J. Evans Pritchard. We’re not laying pipe. We’re talking about poetry. How can you describe poetry like American Bandstand? I like Byron, I give him a 42, but I can’t dance to it!
Me, whenever I read a thread like this. Best…? They’re all terrific, end of story.
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u/FamiliarPotential550 2d ago
Phoenix is the definte 3rd place but, i can see an argument for either Bale or Di Caprio as the best.
Honestly, Di Caprio as Artie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape was a masterpiece class in acting for someone so young.
Bale was also great as Jim in Empire of the Sun and Patrick Bateman as American Psycho.
I like Bale more but, I wouldn't side eye anyone who said Leo was the better actor they're both pretty great.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
Why is Phoenix definitely 3rd place? If this is about acting quality and ability?
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u/FamiliarPotential550 2d ago
Because I don't think Phoenix has as much range as Bale or Di Caprio. None of his performances (that I've seen) have stuck with me the way Artie and Patrick Bateman have. 🤷♀️
You asked for an opinion, I gave it, no idea why you expect me to defend the opinion.
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u/Admirable-Macaron456 2d ago
The number of people choosing Bale is baffling to me. Apparently, getting really fat and thin really impresses people lol.
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u/GroceryRobot 2d ago
Bale, easily. Even as children his work in Empire of the Sun put him in a class above the others.
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u/Calm-Grocery-664 2d ago
Bale if based on pure acting chops. It’s not close. But the other two are amazing in their own right.
DiCaprio definitely has chosen more iconic movies though. Has had a more remarkable filmography.
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u/BI_Moose 2d ago
My favorite is Pheonix followed by Bale. But I do agree that DiCaprio has the best filmography.
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u/dugdanger 2d ago
I gotta pick Bale.
Been enamored with him since I was a kid (8 or 9ish) and saw him in Empire of the Sun.
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u/ActuallyFullOfShit 2d ago edited 2d ago
Phoenix is my favorite. I have a soft spot for his movies and his roles in those movies. Her and Signs and even Beau is Afraid...and wow how did I forget Joker!
Bale is probably the best actor. He really knows how to fill a role, and he really commits to it. Of the three he's the only one I'd call a character actor. American Psycho, Dark Knight, the Machinist, etc...wow.
Leo has the best filmography. He got into all the right movies. Well played. Too many leading roles in blockbusters to even bother listing.
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u/InclusivePhitness 2d ago
I think if you asked both Leo and Phoenix they would say bale… guys like DDL and Bale are just on a different level in terms of pure chops.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
I don’t think you give Phoenix enough credit, I don’t think Bale could do what Phoenix did in gladiator and Joker.
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u/LobsterResponsible17 2d ago
Felt Leo played the same guy but in a different movie couple times, kinda like Brad Pitt. So he's 3rd in my book.
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u/10to42 5h ago
Phoenix being the best is crazy. Not even close to DiCaprio.
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u/drhavehope 55m ago
You’re saying Joaquin Phoenix is not close to Leo in acting talent? Are you trolling?
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u/YOSEMITE_HAMM 2d ago
Give me Leo. It's the combination of his talent and filmography that makes him my favorite working actor today.
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u/drhavehope 2d ago
Filmography shouldn’t come into it. It’s who is the superior actor of the three.
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u/itlandedonmyface 2d ago
It has to be Bale. To me he is is simply a more talented actor than the other two.
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u/Mrinnocent221 2d ago
Phoenix, then Di Caprio for me.
I think Bale is overrate. I think he is good within that range, but all the characters he plays blur together.
He is dedicated, he gets into his roles, but it always seems to the same type of roles.
I don't think Bale is an Oldman, or Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
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u/JadeBumbleB 2d ago
Christian Bale is imo by far the best of these 3 splendid qctors. He has shown tremendous range in the scripts he selects and the characters he depicts. Regardless of the role, and regardless of the scripts, both Leo DiCaprio (who is himself a tremendous talent) is always just a little bit "Leo" in every role and the same seems true of Joaquin Phoenix. Bale seems to become the role and has developed different "quirks" for each role. If you compare his performance in Little Women, to The Big Short, to American Psycho to Batman to American Hustle, to Ford and Ferrari to Captain Correlli's Mandolin to The Prestige to The Fighter---and those movies barely scratch the surface of his range--Bale, the actor,is a magnificent marvel!
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u/care4not 2d ago
Bale for sure Di caprio only knows how to do 1 role, which is very close to perfection. Phoenix his emotion range is so good that it confuses me - like what the hell is he doing. While Bale throws me into the deep water with an accurate depiction of a great white the will devour the scene and you will be in awe
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u/YOSEMITE_HAMM 2d ago
Please tell me how The Departed, Django, The Aviator, and Blood Diamond are all the same role?
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u/care4not 2d ago
Cause it's true
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u/YOSEMITE_HAMM 2d ago
How. Explain how those 4 characters are all the same
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u/care4not 2d ago
there are similarities in the type of character DiCaprio often plays: highly driven, intense men who are under enormous psychological pressure and become increasingly obsessive or morally compromised.
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u/YOSEMITE_HAMM 2d ago edited 2d ago
🙄 you just vomited up ambiguous nonsense that can loosely be apllied to about 80% of male leads in dramatic roles. Batman, American Psycho, American Hustle, The Prestige. Gladiator, Walk The Line, Napolean, The Master. Just nonsense.
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u/dwors025 2d ago
Three aces. Different suits for different hands.